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Amid chaotic scenes in a Cairo court, the main opposition
candidate in Egypt's forthcoming presidential election has gone on
trial accused of forgery.

Ayman Nour, leader of the party al-Ghad (Tomorrow), has faced
constant harassment since declaring his intention to run for the
presidency and says the charges are trumped up. A conviction would
disqualify him from the election in September.

At least 3000 riot police closed streets around the court on
Tuesday and set up a security cordon stretching 500 metres on
either side of the building.

Mr Nour, who arrived with 55 lawyers, was initially refused
admission. Later, standing in the caged dock, he pleaded not guilty
to forging signatures in support of his party's application for
legal recognition. He was arrested in January but released after
diplomatic pressure from the US.

Up to 3000 supporters roamed the building as the trial began,
but only about 200 people could pack into the courtroom. On the
steps outside protesters chanted "Justice for Ayman Nour!" and
waved banners declaring "No to fabrication".

The case is being heard by Judge Abdel Salam Gomaa, who four
years ago sentenced human rights activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim to
seven years in prison. Mr Ibrahim, who had been accused of fraud,
tarnishing Egypt's reputation and receiving foreign donations
without government permission, was later cleared by Egypt's highest
court.

Mr Nour was among a group of pro-reform politicians who last
week met US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. During her visit
to Cairo Dr Rice called for an end to "arbitrary justice".

President Hosni Mubarak, now 77, has been in power since 1981
but is expected to seek a fifth six-year term in the election.
Until now, his mandate has always been renewed in a referendum.
Following street protests this year he agreed to allow elections
with more than one candidate in future.

Since then, would-be opponents have suffered harassment. One
candidate, feminist writer Nawal el-Saadawi, said she had been
forced to abandon a meeting after police threatened to arrest
organisers.

The US, while praising multi-candidate elections, wants
international monitoring, an idea the Egyptian Government has so
far resisted, branding it as foreign interference. Parliamentary
polls in Egypt are normally characterised by widespread fraud.

On the eve of his trial Mr Nour said: "I will accuse them of
forging for the past 50 years... the will of 70 million
Egyptians".